Background: Egypt provides ideal conditions for poliovirus (PV) transmission (high population density, high contact rates and low sanitation and hygiene in some areas). Despite excellent program performance, wild poliovirus type 1 (PV1) continue to circulate in 2004. To investigate potential causes for the persistence, we conducted a serological study.
Methods: Seroprevalence surveys were conducted in "polio-endemic" regions (Greater Cairo and Upper Egypt) and in one control region (Lower Egypt) in December 2004. Sera collected from infants aged 6-11 months were tested for antibodies to poliovirus by neutralization assay.
Results: A total of 973 subjects were tested. Seroprevalence to PV type 1 (PV1), PV type 2 (PV2) and PV type 3 (PV3) was 99, 99 and 91%, respectively. Significant variation in PV3 seroprevalence was found (range: 76-100%). Region, density, maternal education, socioeconomic status (SES), stunting and diarrhea were significant risk factors for lower seroprevalence in the univariate analysis.
Conclusions: Our study suggested that uniformly high immunity levels (>96%) were required to interrupt PV1 transmission in the last remaining reservoirs (last PV1 was isolated in mid-January 2005 in Egypt). It further suggests substantial regional differences in OPV immunogenicity, with rural areas and low SES achieving the lowest seroprevalence to PV3.